{A leading rights group in the Democratic Republic of Congo has called on the government to annul a controversial general’s appointment to lead the fight against rebels.}<\/p>\n
Gen Bruno Mandevu could not run operations against the FDLR rebel group because he was accused of summary executions and rape, it said. <\/p>\n
The government said he remained innocent, until proven otherwise. <\/p>\n
It is under international pressure to disarm the FDLR in eastern DR Congo.<\/p>\n
Rwanda sees the FDLR as a threat to its stability and, along with the UN, has repeatedly demanded its disarmament.<\/p>\n
The FDLR has been accused of recruiting child soldiers, rape and systematic looting.<\/p>\n
A 2 January deadline to launch the operation passed without any action. <\/p>\n
On Sunday, DR Congo’s government announced Gen Mandevu’s appointment to head the offensive.<\/p>\n
UN forces in DR Congo, known by the acronym Monusco, were expected to take part in the assault.<\/p>\n
Reuters news agency quoted unnamed Western diplomats as saying this was in doubt following Gen Mandevu’s appointment as he was on a Monusco “red list” over 121 rights violations, including summary executions and rapes.<\/p>\n
He has not commented on the allegations.<\/p>\n
The Congolese Association for Access to Justice campaign group said he should be removed from the post, pending an independent investigation into the allegations.<\/p>\n
“We ask the United Nations to refrain from collaborating with General Mandevu”, said Georges Kapiamba, the head of the group. <\/p>\n
The head of the UN mission in DR Congo, Martin Kobler, told the BBC that the UN was in contact with the government over Gen Mandevu’s appointment. <\/p>\n
However, it whole-heartedly supported an assault on the FDLR, and believed that any risk of human rights violations could be “mitigated” by close surveillance of the operation, he said.<\/p>\n
DR Congo government spokesman Lambert Mende said the government would not take instructions from the UN. <\/p>\n
Gen Mandevu was innocent until proven guilty, and the government was waiting for the UN to present evidence against him, he said.<\/p>\n
The government had chosen its best soldiers to expel the FLDR from its territory and this included the general, Mr Mende added.<\/p>\n
{{Source: BBC}}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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